10 Tips for a More Comfortable Boundary Waters Experience 

Don't forget your whiskey. I recommend a 45 proof rye.

Great tips! One of my favorites tips is four color mesh bags. I put the breakfast in a Blue, lunch in red, and supper in yellow. Easy to pull out of pack and you can see what’s in there. Good ears!

Another great tip is to always wear you PFD fully connected - all professionals should wear them on video that way too :) We've had too many drown because their PFD came off and people don't realize how cold/deep the water is.

My tips from experience: 1. Coat your tent and rain fly with silicone waterproofing spray before the trip. It may rain the entire time you are out there. You don't want to get wet. 2. Always bring a full GORETEX rain suit, including a waterproof breathable rain hat. If you get wet all day from never ending rain, you won't be having fun, hiding in the tent. A hoodie blocks your hearing and vision. A rain hat is better. 3. Yes to the camp chair. Never go without one. Even a light weigh beach chair works if you don't have $9,000.00 to by a Helix chair. 4. Use a headlamp instead of a flash light so your hands are free. 5. Yes to the Kevlar canoe. 6. A canoe seat with a back rest. For the same reason you have a camp chair. Never go without one. 7. Moleskin - if you get a blister, or want to prevent one, you'll be every grateful for it. 8. A G-Shock GW-M5610U wrist watch. A durable best value MacGyver watch. 9. Fire steel fire starting kit. Always keep it on you. Never go anywhere without it, just like your knife. 10. Never travel alone or leave the group to go by yourself. Travel in pairs at least. 11. GoPro or equivalent. Record that experience. It will bring back great memories later. 12. Record a daily journal and detail everything. Each day up there is better than any day back home. Later it will bring you joy to remember. 13. Always know where you are on the map and make sure someone else does too. Don't be a single point of failure if you die up there. 14. Leave the brainwashing technology at home and don't use it up there in heaven. No smart phones or stupid iPads. 15. Metamucil. Take a Ziplock bag of it. You may not poop regularly out there, and if you aren't, this will activate it. Works like a blessing. A healthy person should poop at least once a day but I had been out there and hadn't popped for over five days and I was eating regularly. I just didn't have to go. A few large tablespoons of Metamucil spread over my dinner activated my bowels the next morning like clockwork. It was taught to me by an older, wise friend. 16. Leather "fire" gloves - to pull off hot pots and pans and to protect hands during sawing and cutting. 17. Fully decked out First Aid kit. 18. LED Lantern for Table and tent. 19. Gas stove - to quickly heat up water for coffee without having to start a wood camp fire. 20. Large contractor-grade trash bags - used as backpack waterproof covers, trash bags, waterproof other gear inside backpack, and makeshift poncho, or a sail in the canoe. Multiple uses.

Surprised you didn't mention best time of year to visit BWCA. The first couple trips my brother and I did in the early 90's - in June \ July - the mosquitoes were horrific. For a native Minnesotan it wasn't surprising but it was a bloodbath. Every trip since we did in mid-September to first week in Oct. It's the perfect time. Yes it can get chilly, but the fall colors and complete lack of bugs is amazing compared to the 4th of July.

Good video. I brought a chair to the BWCA for the first time last year, and it was a life changer. My 44 yo butt just couldn't take the hard ground anymore. One tip on the saw is to make sure you have a dry wood blade. There are blades for dry wood and wet wood. Won't need the wet blade for anything in the BWCA.

Great tips! Our family got back into canoeing in 2019 with all the Pandemic restrictions. We learned all the things you have identified but the hard way lol. I agree with most of the comments here. 1. Agreed - Very seldom do you stop to have lunch every even when you are in one place. If you plan for a full lunch every day you will over pack. Plan for snacks instead. 2. Water filtration system- if you are going with a group of people go with a larger gravity system as it saves time, provides the volume of water you need and takes less time. 3 Dehydrated food- game changer. You need less cooking equipment, it saves preparation time, food doesn't go bad, save a ton of weight. 4. Discuss safety in advance and encourage/empower everyone to speak up if they feel unsafe with decisions taken. Identified one person who is responsible for reminding people to drink water and snack during the trip. Great post.

My wife and I camp together and have traveled the BWCA for over 40 years, starting with a cheap tent and no pad, moving to a foam pad, then a self inflating pad until we finally moved to luxury, an airbed. We usually base camp so fill the airbed once and we're good. Before you get a barrel and carrier, try to help another camper by carrying their barrel. I won't get one, the do not fit my back. We have tried different tents over the years but a few years ago we splurged on a more expensive one. No more leaks. Grocery stores have lots of dehydrated food options and many are quite cheap. You can get the luxury food when you get home.

Great suggestions. I’ve been traveling the BWCA since the 70’s. Sold my canoe years ago and now rent Kevlar. Prefer bent paddles. Adopted the camp chair when I hit 40. I’ve gone back to Duluth Pack canvas bags (#4) for durability and functionality in and out of a canoe. Tried many others. Never thought about taking my hunting GPS. Next trip.

I like idea of buying made in US vs China when I can

You sir know what you're doing!

Great job. Had my first trip last week and used an outfitter. Loved the Kevlar canoe ❤️ also, Minnesota is flippin awesome!

I never even thought of the chair 🤯 thanks man I’ll make sure to bring one up there this summer

I used to be a BWCA canoe guide and these tips are great!

Interesting to see the differences in what is needed in different parts of the country. When paddling the Everglades it’s all about water. Every drop is carried in the canoe. So the gear and food goes ultralight to make room for water weight. Good thing is, sleep systems and insulation can be lighter because of warm climate. And we eat fish so that knocks down on food weight a bit. A 1week trip takes 100-120lbs of water. We don’t have to portage it , but we do have to float it and paddle it around.

Comfort is well and good but probably isn’t your primary objective if you’re heading to the backcountry. Here are a couple of others: 1) learning opportunities: If you have GPS, stow it and use only as a backup to compass and maps. Don’t carry chairs and instead learn how to improvise. 2) cost consciousness and accessibility: Use whatever gear you already own or can borrow, and don’t obsess over whether it’s purpose-made. E.g., backpacking packs are generally just fine. Focus on clearance mainly if you intend to carry a particular pack and a canoe at the same time. Instead of shelling out for freeze dried backpacking meals, find cheap dried food at the grocery store - there are lots of options.

After 60 years of going to Quetico and BWCA that is the best advise ever. I am sorry it took me so long to learn, and I still learned from your video. Thank you. We are leaving Saturday!

Good stuff! Thanks!

Good tips! Especially the chair. Big A is expensive but probably worth it.

Nice video man! Thanks for sharing

These are great recommendations! Obviously an experienced woodsman ;)

Camp Chow from Trail Center on the GFT is awesome freeze-dried food!

Nothing to complain about, all great advice. Only thing i would add as comfort items is an extra pair of dry socks/underwear. And a bug net if you want to stay up and watch the stars

I always bring a chair when kayak and canoeing!!

good advice. also, Don't! bring too much fishing tackle. we stop at a state park in the UP on the way home. you can get a good cheep shower without staying the night.

Good job. Dehydrated/Freeze-dried are the way to go for most of your wilderness foods. I recommend that groups eat as much fresh food in the first day, as possible. They're just better for you, overall. The blue barrels are not bear-safe. The BearVault and Ursack are both good options.

Hey bud! Hope to see your summer adventure up here soon, how’d it go? My latest trick - leave some cold drinks and a few snacks with a full block or bag of ice in the cooler in the car. Even after 6-9 days they’ll be cold when you get back to your car. And nothing helps when hauling all your crap back than a cold beer...and a cold beer while taking a shower at the outfitter is heaven. Cheers guy!

I am glad you go to the woods. There is a popular saying on the Appalachian Trail in the east. "hike Your Own Hike" Your tip#1 I really agree strongly with Kevlar canoes. Tip 2 I am an old school grocery store food guy. Your opinion is correct but so is mine. Tip 3 cost/ I still hang packs. Tip 4 I agree wholeheartedly. CCS yes definitely go with portage packs. Tip 5 map and compass and back up, yes, yes, yes. Tip 6 portable chair. Yes Tip 7 inflatable sleeping pads, yes. Tip 8 saw and ax is an optional item for me. Tip 9 tarp yes, I am a CCS 10'x14' guy. Tip 10 check

Thanks

Well done sir! All great tips for beginners- good reminders for the experienced. One thing we've learned is that we are usually out fishing or exploring or putting the miles behind us during the lunch hour and not willing/able to have a group lunch. We each bring our own 'snacks' and eat when convenient. Patiently waiting for tips 11-20!

A Tarp can keep you warm! Me and my brother fell asleep on the river on a trip. Woke up no paddles getting dark and miles away from a camp site. We were in a big group and only had certain gear on us. The lord blessed us with both our paddles sitting in the weed line not to far from us. We couldn’t make it in the dark on rapids so decided to stop and make do, we had one wet sleeping bag and no food or fire. Best believe we made it work, sleeping bag for mat and tarp to wrap up in. It worked and we caught up to our group the end of the next day because our other brother wouldn’t move with out us! It was a godsend at that point, we were both spent and loosing faith that we would ever catch up to the group. “Gotta have faith” And yes, we messed up bad 🍻

I saw that you were wearing the NRS Boundary Boots in your video. I am going on a trip to the BWCA in July for the first time and am struggling to find a good pair of boots to bring for portaging. I know I want ankle support, but don't know if it is better to get something like the NRS boot or something that can shed water quickly. Any advice?

Any suggestions for footwear? Heading there in early august. Usually hike in trail runners, but looks like things can get mucky so was gonna bring one pair for wet stuff. Keens? Thanks for the info!

What brand is your footwear you were wearing in the scene where you were putting your chairs together? NRS?

Swim before you get to the take out.😊

Is the CCS guide pack waterproof/rain proof?

Go tips I run a Kevlar fusion Swift Prospector 30lbs and a 65 L black canyon Seal line portage pack never more than 32 lbs for a 5 day trip. I PCT hang my food. Slack line bears don’t stand a chance.

Camp on a very small island ! Makes life easier. I catch my own fish ' for food.And brit few spuds.

BUGS: Wear oversized (baggy) white businessman dress shirts (tight weave) with super long sleeves (the cuffs should reach your knuckles)...use athletic wristbands or cut the elastic off running socks to keep the sleeves from collapsing on your arm while doing things...eat dinner early and prepare camp for bed early so all you have to do when you come back from an evening paddle/fish is get in the tent....for the men: have a designated PISS BOTTLE (wide mouth Nalgene) for peeing in the tent at night....for the gals: you know what to do....

those blue barrels ARE NOT even bear resistant . get bear vault or counter assault bear keg , ursack bear bag . In boundary waters finding a single branch to hang bear bags , next to impossible . When I need to , I use two trees with a pulley centered and a second line to hoist food bag . The rest of your tips are good . 20 + years tripping there.

A foam sleeping pad is preferable than an inflatable one. A foam pad will float and keep your pack buoyant; it will also never deflate so it will never fail. They are not heavy nor cumbersome to carry. Food barrels however and an extreme pain to carry because they are heavy and have an odd shape to carry while portaging. Best to avoid bears and other creatures being a nuisance is to put your food on a wet proof bag hang your food in some tree away from your camp. Remember to please clean after yourself.